If a child demonstrates multiple production errors, which initial sound should be targeted according to established developmental norms?

• A. /s/
• B. /ʃ/
• C. /k/
• D. /tʃ/

Answer: (C)

When a child has multiple production errors, you start with a sound that tends to develop earlier and is more easily mastered. Early developing sounds provide a solid foundation for building other phonemes, so choosing a stop like /k/ fits that approach. Stops are generally simpler to produce than fricatives or affricates, which means /k/ is more likely to be stimulable and generalize across contexts. The other options are characterized as later-developing fricatives or an affricate, which typically require more motor precision and are acquired later in typical development. Focusing on /k/ gives a practical starting point to stabilize production and support broader phonological growth.